DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-20 in the reply filed on April 28, 2026 is acknowledged. Examiner disagrees with the claim election for the following reasons:
Claims 3 and 18 disclose protrusions and recesses on the engagement features of the posts which is distinct from the elected species.
Claim 6 discloses the fabric straps having magnets which is distinct from the elected species.
Claim 7 disclose the posts having magnets which is distinct from the elected species.
Claim 8 discloses a buckle which is distinct from the elected species.
Claim 13 discloses an intermediate layer between the core and covering which is distinct from the elected species.
Claims 3, 6-8, 13, and 18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 2, 4, and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Anderson (US 2499898 A).
Regarding claim 1, Anderson discloses a fabric strap (fastener) for an electronic device, the fabric strap (fastener) comprising: first and second fabric portions (10, 11, clasp members); and an adjustable closing mechanism (clasp) configured to attach the first fabric portion (10, clasp member) to the second fabric portion (11, clasp member), wherein the adjustable closing mechanism (clasp) comprises: a first array of posts (12, prongs) on the first fabric portion (10, clasp member); and a second array of posts (13, prongs) on the second fabric portion (11, clasp member), wherein the first array of posts (12, prongs) is configured to interlock (column 2, lines 26-29) with the second array of posts (13, prongs) to attach the first fabric portion (10, clasp member) to the second fabric portion (11, clasp member).
Regarding claim 2, Anderson discloses that the first array of posts (12, prongs) comprises a first set of engagement features (heads and necks of 12, prongs) and the second array of posts (13, prongs) comprises a second set of engagement features (heads and necks of 13, prongs) that mates with the first set of engagement features (column 2, lines 26-29 and 41-43) to attach the first fabric portion (10, clasp member) to the second fabric portion (11, clasp member).
Regarding claim 4, Anderson discloses that the posts in the first and second arrays (12, 13, prongs) have a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of: rectangular and round (figure 4 and column 3, lines 62-66).
Regarding claim 5, Anderson discloses that the posts in the first and second arrays (12, 13, prongs) have outer surfaces with convex portions (enlarged heads) and concave portions (necks).
Claims 11, 12, 15-17, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Berg et al (US 5657516 A).
Regarding claim 11, Berg discloses a fabric strap (fastener), comprising: first and second fabric portions (7, 8, fastener elements); a first array of posts (11, mating elements) on the first fabric portion (8, first fastener element); and a second array of posts (9, mating elements) on the second fabric portion (7, second fastener element), wherein the first array of posts (11, mating elements) is configured to engage with the second array of posts (9, mating elements) to attach the first fabric portion (8, first fastener element) to the second fabric portion (7, second fastener element), and wherein the posts in the first and second arrays (9, 11, mating elements) each comprise a core (42) and a covering (41, mating element).
Regarding claim 12, Berg discloses that the core (42) is formed from a first material (resilient material) and the covering (41, mating element) is formed from a second material (polymeric material such as foam) that is more flexible than the first material.
Regarding claim 15, Berg discloses that the covering (41, mating element) is configured to deform (column 10, lines 27-36) when the first array of posts (11, mating elements) is engaged with the second array of posts (9, mating elements).
Regarding claim 16, Berg discloses a wearable fabric strap (fastener), comprising: first and second fabric portions (7, 8, fastener elements); a first set of posts (11, mating elements) on the first fabric portion (8, first fastener element), wherein the first set of posts (11, mating elements) includes a first set of engagement features (43, microprotrusions); and a second set of posts (9, mating elements) on the second fabric portion (7, second fastener element), wherein the second set of posts (9, mating elements) includes a second set of engagement features (43, microprotrusions) that engages with the first set of engagement features to attach (column 10, lines 27-36) the first fabric portion (8, first fastener element) to the second fabric portion (7, second fastener element).
Regarding claim 17, Berg discloses that the engagement features (43, microprotrusions) in the first and second sets (9, 11, mating elements) comprise concave surfaces and convex surfaces (figure 7).
Regarding claim 19, Berg discloses that the posts in the first and second sets of posts (9, 11, mating elements) each include a rigid core (42) and a deformable covering (41, mating element) that surrounds the rigid core (42).
Regarding claim 20, Berg discloses that the first set of posts (11, mating elements) is configured to engage with different regions of the second set of posts (9, mating elements) to adjust a length of the wearable fabric strap.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Anderson (US 2499898 A) as applied to claim 1 above, in view of the embodiment of Kono et al. (US 20030126724 A1) figure 8.
Regarding claim 9, Anderson discloses the fabric strap defined in claim 1, having a first and second arrays of posts (12, 13, prongs).
Anderson does not explicitly disclose the first and second arrays each including a core and a covering that surrounds the core.
Regarding claim 9, Kono teaches a fabric strap (surface fastener), wherein the posts (24, hooks) each include a core (42, hard resin material) and a covering (41, elastic resin material) that surrounds the core (42, hard resin material).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the prongs (12, 13) of Anderson to mimic the makeup of the hooks (24) as taught by Kono’s figure 8. One would be motivated to make this modification in order to retain the stiffness needed for the fastening ability of the hooks, while protecting the hook with a covering made of material elastic enough for the fastener to be used repeatedly as taught by Kono ([0061]).
Regarding claim 10, the previously made combination of Anderson/Kono discloses that the covering (41, elastic resin material) comprises a material that is more flexible ([0061], lines 4-8) than the core (42, hard resin material).
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Berg (US 5657516 A) as applied to claim 11 above, in view of Anderson (US 2499898 A).
Regarding claim 14, Berg discloses the fabric strap (fastener) defined in claim 11 having posts with a core and a covering.
Berg does not explicitly disclose the core of the posts having a base and a tip wherein the tip is wider than the base.
Regarding claim 14, Anderson teaches a fabric strap (fastener) where the posts (12, 13, prongs) have a base (neck) and a tip (enlarged head) and wherein the tip is wider than the base (figure 5).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the shape of the posts of Berg to mimic the shape of the posts as taught by Anderson. One would be motivated to make this modification in order to increase the security of the fastening connection (column 2, lines 26-29).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Dixson (US 11103031 B1) teaches an adjustable tack strap with prongs on both sides.
Murasaki (US 5457856 A) teaches an adjustable fastener with molded prongs having a core.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KARA BROOKS whose telephone number is (571)272-9484. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/K.J.B./Examiner, Art Unit 3677
/JASON W SAN/SPE, Art Unit 3677
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